The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g. clip-on or slide-on side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of this section are acceptable.

The employer shall ensure that each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses.

1910.133(a)(4)

Eye and face PPE shall be distinctly marked to facilitate identification of the manufacturer.

1910.133(a)(5)

The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for the work being performed for protection from injurious light radiation. The following is a listing of appropriate shade numbers for various operations.

Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy

Operations

Electrode Size 1/32 in.

Arc Current

Minimum* Protective Shade

Shielded metal arc welding

Less than 3

Less than 60

7

3-5

60-160

8

5-8

160-250

10

More than 8

250-550

11

Gas metal arc welding and flux cored arc welding

less than 60

7

60-160

10

160-250

10

250-500

10

Gas Tungsten arc welding

less than 50

8

50-150

8

150-500

10

Air carbon

(Light)

less than 500

10

Arc cutting

(Heavy)

500-1000

11

Plasma arc welding

less than 20

6

20-100

8

100-400

10

400-800

11

Plasma arc cutting

(light)**

less than 300

8

(medium)**

300-400

9

(heavy)**

400-800

10

Torch brazing

3

Torch soldering

2

Carbon arc welding

14

Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy

Operations

Plate thickness-inches

Plate thickness-mm

Minimum* Protective Shade

Gas Welding:

Light

Under 1/8

Under 3.2

4

Medium

1/8 to 1/2

3.2 to 12.7

5

Heavy

Over 1/2

Over 12.7

6

Oxygen cutting:

Light

Under 1

Under 25

3

Medium

1 to 6

25 to 150

4

Heavy

Over 6

Over 150

5

* As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which gives sufficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding or cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the visible light of the (spectrum) operation.

** These values apply where the actual arc is clearly seen. Experience has shown that lighter filters may be used when the arc is hidden by the workpiece.

1910.133(b)

Criteria for protective eye and face protection.

1910.133(b)(1)

Protective eye and face protection devices must comply with any of the following consensus standards:

Protective eye and face protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as protective eye and face protection devices that are constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

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